Cougar sailors dominate conference meet

The College of Charleston’s coed sailing team, currently ranked No. 2 in the country, won both divisions to post a dominating victory in the SAISA Fall Coed Championships in Charleston Harbor this weekend.

The Cougars defended the South Atlantic Intercollegiate Sailing Association conference title they won last year by beating Miami, 55 to 62. South Florida was third with 73, while Eckerd and Florida rounded out the top five in the 12-team event, which was raced in FJs.

At one point, Mac Mace, Perry Emsiek and Samuel Stokes combined to win five straight races in A Division to help Charleston overtake the Hurricanes. Miami had started the regatta by winning the first three races in both divisions.

In B Division, Ben Spector, Nick Johnstone, Jeffery Aschieris and Alyssa Aitken combined to place either first or second in 10 of the 12 races to take a slim 27-29 win in the division over the Canes.

The sailing team will be splitting its squad this weekend, sending part of the team to Chicago for the ICSA Singlehanded Nationals, while the rest of the squad will be staying home to compete in the South Atlantic ISA/Mid-Atlantic ISA regatta in Charleston Harbor.